Entries by Lisa McDonald

Chocolate Scorecard 2026 Reveals Most Companies Still Failing Children and Cocoa Farmers —but Making Progress on Transparency

May 6, 2026 in , , /by

May 6, 2026: Washington, DC – The National Consumers League (NCL) and its organization, the Child Labor Coalition (CLC), are proud to participate in the Annual Chocolate Scorecard, an initiative coordinated by Be Slavery Free, an Australian coalition campaigning against modern slavery. This campaign aims to raise awareness about child labor in chocolate production, promote ethical sourcing, and empower consumers to choose chocolate that aligns with their values.   

Consumer Groups Lead Coalition Urging Congress to Reject Heavier Trucks

April 28, 2026 in /by

April 28, 2026: Washington, DC – Today, the Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) and the National Consumers League (NCL), joined by 25 organizations, sent a letter to congressional leaders urging them to reject any proposal to increase the federal truck size and weight limit to permit vehicles above 80,000 pounds on American roadways. The coalition emphasized that maintaining the current cap is essential to protecting taxpayers, motorists, and the long-term integrity of the nation’s infrastructure.

NCL Urges Conditions on Any Spirit Bailout

April 24, 2026 in /by

April 24, 2026: Washington, DC – NCL, the Consumer Federation of America, and the Revolving Door Project are urging the Trump Administration to ensure any potential bailout of Spirit Airlines includes consumer and worker protections as well as prohibitions on stock buybacks and excessive executive compensation. The groups also advocated against industry lobbying to waive certain taxes that fund critical American air traffic infrastructure. 

NCL Urges DOT Investigate Airline Pricing 

April 24, 2026 in /by

April 24, 2026: Washington, DC – In the wake of JetBlue Airways’ apparent admission of surveillance pricing to determine airfares, NCL and six other public interest organizations are urging the U.S. Department of Transportation to investigate the industry’s pricing practices. Airlines have long used confusing pricing algorithms that make the ticket-buying experience frustrating for travelers. Every major airline has made news in the past two years for their dynamic pricing practices, including rollouts of AI-set prices in 2025 and allegations of price gouging targeting travelers escaping Hurricane Milton in 2024.  

Strengthening the Consumer Voice Across the Atlantic

April 22, 2026 in /by

This week, I had the pleasure of attending the Transatlantic Consumer Dialogue (TACD) meeting in Brussels. TACD provides a formal mechanism for U.S. and EU consumer representatives to contribute to transatlantic policy discussions, negotiations, and agreements, while also advancing the consumer perspective in international forums. The organization plays a critical role in ensuring that policy dialogue between the United States and Europe promotes consumer welfare and reflects the real-world impact of decisions on people’s daily lives.
The meeting offered a unique opportunity to spend time with consumer advocates from both Europe and the United States—comparing notes on shared challenges and learning from one another’s experiences. We also met with European officials to discuss their priorities for the coming year. Notably, the Trump Administration declined to send representatives, marking a departure from past administrations that have participated in these important conversations.

Georgia Floyd County 4-H Team Wins the 2026 Varsity LifeSmarts National Championship

April 21, 2026 in , , , /by

April 18, 2026: Orlando, FL – The Floyd County 4-H Team was crowned the 2026 Varsity LifeSmarts National Champions in Orlando, Florida. Coached by Phyllis Allee and Abbie Salmon, the winning team consisted of Joe Rutledge (12th grade), Abigail Moon (12th grade), Tabitha Smith (11th grade), Finley Smith (9th grade).   

March Madness Frenzy: Consumers Beware—Sports Betting Apps Are Draining Your Credit

April 2, 2026 in /by

April 2, 2026: Washington, DC — As March Madness reaches the Final Four—with billions of dollars on the line and millions of Americans placing high-stakes wagers—the National Consumers League (NCL) is warning that sports betting apps are doing more than fueling the excitement—they may be quietly draining consumers’ savings and damaging their financial health. 

NCL, Former FCC Chairs File SCOTUS Brief To Defend Agency From Wireless Carriers 

March 27, 2026 in , , /by

March 27, 2026: Washington, DC – Today, the National Consumers League, two former chairs of the FCC, and five other public interest organizations filed an amicus brief at the U.S. Supreme Court in FCC v. AT&T. The case was brought after telecom carriers were found liable for privacy violations that harmed their customers. The companies responded by suing to nullify the Commission’s primary fining authority under the Communications Act of 1934.  

Sen. Durbin Reintroduces NCL-Endorsed Protect Your Points Act 

March 27, 2026 in , /by

March 27, 2026: Washington, DC – Yesterday, Senator Durbin reintroduced the Protect Your Points Act, legislation that would protect consumers’ airline rewards points. Key components include a prohibition on points devaluation without at least one year’s notice, a requirement for the non-expiration of accrued points, a ban on junk fees for the redemption of rewards, and greater transparency into the dollar value of rewards points.